Thursday 24 December 2015

Flora Reviews... Shadow Touched (#1-4) by Erin Kellison



Shadow Touched (#1-4) 
by Erin Kellison

Read: 20th – 24th December 2015
Format: Kindle
My Goodreads Rating:  4 Stars


...So what’s this book about?

This is a paranormal romance story (with an urban fantasy feel) about human scientist, Dr Cam Kalamos and human Eleanor Russo, who has unique qualities all of her own. Ms Kellison has combined her Shadow series spin-off novellas, Shadow Touch, Shadow Play, Shadow Hunt and the previously unreleased Shadow Burn to bring us Cam and Ellie’s complete romance story here in this novel.

I haven’t read any of Ms Kellison’s other novels and although I’m sure it would have added a further depth of understanding and knowledge of the cast of  characters to this book, I don’t think it’s imperative  to have read the other books in the Shadow series to enjoy this one.

The blurb says:

*Shadow Touched is Ellie and Cam's complete story, previously released as Shadow Touch, Shadow Play and Shadow Hunt, ending in the thrilling conclusion, the previously unreleased Shadow Burn.

A darkness looms over humankind, lurks in mirrors, blurs boundaries—a twilight world ruled by powerful mage Houses...

It is bleeding into our world, bringing with it banshees, wraiths, fae from the twisting forests of Twilight. But Eleanor Russo’s problem is a very different kind of phenomenon. Her dark mirror image is a wild thing, willfully seducing the very man Ellie hoped could help her.

Dr. Cam Kalamos has devoted his career to exploring the boundaries between this world and Twilight. But nothing could prepare him for the mischief and mayhem of a soul split in two.

As Ellie and Cam explore their deepest desires and barely escape with their lives, there is only one certainty: Trusting in shadows is a dangerous game.

Although this book isn’t being released until 5th January 2016, I was lucky enough to be given a digital version for free from the publisher (Kensington Books) via Netgally.com in exchange for a fair review. 

Thank you.


 ...So, what did I like about it?

I found Ms Kellison’s writing style very easy to read and although the cast of characters were aplenty and the world was new to me, I didn’t get lost in the plot. I enjoyed getting to know her take of the world of Fae, Shadow (magic), Mages (magicians who forfeit their soul for magical power), Wraiths (immortal beings who eat souls) and the humans who live and work in this changing world.

I devoured the 1st part/book "Shadow Touch" what an opening! The life that Ellie had lead *sniff* made me quite emotional but I love that she's not a whiny, helpless female! In fact, Ellie and Cam both grew and developed through the four novellas, both in their romantic relationship and in their personal evolution.

I liked the fact that I wasn’t quite sure where the story was going to take us, it doesn’t read like the usual PNR (Paranormal Romance) story arc; it kept me guessing and I found it a real page turner.

I chuckled, I held my breath in horror/tension, I blushed and yes I shed the odd tear – I was engrossed in this book from start to finish.

...So, ummm, was there anything I disliked about it?

Not disliked but my main niggle is that this book did not read like a novel, as implied by the blurb but more of a box set of the novellas (the story arc stretches over a 14month or so time frame). That’s not a bad thing; I just feel that a slight change to the wording of the blurb would correct the potential misunderstanding.

...So, basically what I’m saying is...

I really enjoyed this collection of novellas and I will be adding Ms Kellison’s Shadow series to my Amazon wish list – there’s so much more to discover about this world and the cast of characters!

If you’re a fan of tales of the paranormal or fantasy world with a real to life romance story (no insta-romance here) cleverly weaved between the action, mystery and weirdness (or is that wyrdness) all finished off with a satisfactory HEA (Happily Ever After) ending for our romantic couple then I’d recommend this book for you.

So, have I sparked an interested for SHADOW TOUCHED in you? Just click on any of the links below and have a look at the book yourself.
Buy SHADOW TOUCHED on Barnes&Noble

Sunday 20 December 2015

Flora Reviews... The Warrior Vampire (Last True Vampire #2) by Kate Baxter



The Warrior Vampire (Last True Vampire #2)

Read: 14th – 19th December 2015
Format: Kindle
My Overall Goodreads Rating:  5 Stars



So what’s this book about?

This is the second book in a new paranormal romance series about vampires, half breeds, slayers and other creatures that go bump in the night.

The blurb says:

The vampire was built for sin, every inch of him tight and bulky with corded muscle. A killer, that much was apparent, and she couldn't help but wonder if his appetite for violence would rival his appetites for other...things.

A WOMAN SEDUCED
Naya Morales is no ordinary mortal. Born with a shaman's power, she has devoted her life to tracking down stolen magic-and punishing those who take it. But one fateful night, she follows the alluring call of a sensual magic that is too glorious to be true-and finds herself face to face with a stunningly handsome thief who is too magnificent to resist...

A VAMPIRE ENSLAVED
From the moment he sees her, Ronan knows Naya is his mate. Driven by a deep, almost mystical connection, he aches for her body, hungers for her blood, and swears their souls are anchored together. Naya refuses to believe the words of a vampire-or risk the wrath of her tribe. But when she tries to make Ronan her prisoner, neither chains of silver nor fires of hell can help her escape the truth: she is the one who's been captured...

I was lucky enough to receive a digital version of this book for free from the UK  publishers (Headline Eternal) via Netgally.com in exchange for an honest review. 

Thank you. :-)

 
 ...So, what did I like about it?
I found Ms Baxter’s writing style very easy to read and never felt lost being introduced to Naya’s world of demonic slayers, the Bororo Tribe, in this book. I find her world building very good; I like the idea of all Vampires’ memories being connected (The Collective), the part that the Dhampiri (vampire half-breeds) play and their relationship to the Vampires and the Bororo Tribe’s ancient duty to protect innocents from malicious magic.

Those of you who have read my reviews before know that I am an old romantic at heart so the “two halves of one soul reunited” love story part of this tale satisfied my mushy side but it was the real relationship doubts and insecurities that added a very real and contemporary romance element to this tale that keeps you guessing if Naya and Ronan will ever get their happily ever after.

The balance between tense scenes, action scenes and sexual scenes was good, as a modern woman I was irritated at the “traditional values” of Naya’s pod (the term for her local Bororo Tribe clan) a number of times reading this story and I can’t tell you how many times the temperature seemed to mount while reading certain scenes too!

...So, ummm, was there anything I disliked about it?
In a word - no.  

Although this story didn’t take the direction that I was expecting after the way book 1 (The Last True Vampire) lead into it I was completely captivated by Naya and Ronan’s trying romance.

...So, basically what I’m saying is...
I really loved this amazing novel, I think it has it all; relationship/family drama, mystery, action and thrills when tracking demons, fighting and passionate sex scenes! Woohoo!

If you’re a fan of adult paranormal romance stories where your heroines are intelligent, witty and independent and your heroes strong, sexy with a big heart waiting to be unleashed or if you’ve enjoyed reading the “destined soul mate” theme of Felicity Heaton’s Eternal Mates Series or Dianne Duvall’s Immortal Guardians Series, then I think you’ll love this paranormal romance novel too.

So, have I sparked an interested for The Warrior Vampire in you? Just click on the links below and check out the book yourself.

Monday 14 December 2015

Flora Reviews... Twisted by Uvi Poznansky



Twisted

Read: 5th September – 14th December 2015
Format: Kindle
My Overall Goodreads Rating:  3 Stars

...So what’s this book about?
This book (only 68 pages) is a collection of four original short stories by California based author, poet and artist, Uvi Pozanansky. It’s hard to put it in a genre other than Literature/Fiction/Short Stories.

The blurb says:

In this unique collection, Uvi Poznansky brings together diverse tales, laden with shades of mystery and the macabre. There are four of them: I Am What I Am; I, Woman; The Hollow; and The One Who Never Leaves. Here, you will come into a dark, strange world, a hyper-reality where nearly everything is firmly rooted in the familiar—except for some quirky detail that twists the yarn, and takes it for a spin in an unexpected direction.

This is the reality you will see through the eyes of a ghost of a woman, trying to reclaim her name by appealing to the devil; the eyes of a clay figure of a woman, about to be fired in the kiln, longing for her Creator; the eyes of a woman in the midst of a free fall, about to become a ghost; and the eyes of a feline creature with cracked fangs, trying in vain to resign herself, by hook and by crook, to being locked. These characters explore their identity, and challenge their fate.

Inspired by her art, by quotes from literature and the bible, and by the author’s professional career, these tales come from different times and places. Yet all of them share one thing in common: an unusual mind, one that is twisted. So prepare yourself: keep the lights on.

I haven’t read any of Ms Poznansky’s books before so I have reviewed and rated each of the stories individually as well as giving the book an overall rating.

Story 1- “I am What I Am”

I must confess to being a bit confused by this tale at the beginning; maybe that was the point, giving us readers a sense of disorientation. There seemed to be a few contradicting facts which made determining when in history this tale was taking place and when in history our main female character was reminiscing about.
All of the characters were written with a skill that gave them depth and did become real for me and although my modern sensibilities cheer our main character's feminism throughout this short tale, her final declaration still confuses me.
Story 1- My Rating 2 stars (it was OK)

Story 2 - "The Hollow"

I liked the 2nd story: The Hollow. I've never experienced a love that deep myself but this beautifully written piece captured my heart - it was very short but I found it very moving *sniff*
Story 2- My Rating 4 stars (I really liked it)

Story 3 - "I, Woman"

I liked this story, although it is the narrative from a very unusual character’s perspective.
It is beautifully written and made me smile at times.
Story 3- My Rating 3 stars (I liked it)

Story 3 “I, Woman” is also linked to a poem called Dust which is included in this book and the 2 subsequent images of sculptures that were also created by the author called Dust I and Dust II.

Story 4 - "The One Who Never Leaves”
I liked the final story it’s another tale that written from an unusual character’s perspective ;-)
Story 4- My Rating 3 stars (I liked it)


...So, basically what I’m saying is...

I would definitely call this a literary collection of short stories. I have enjoyed reading this book over the past few months even if, at times, I felt it was beyond me/too high brow. This book has made me think about the meaning of life, my relationships with those around me and my own self view while entertaining me.

If you enjoy quirky, thought provoking novellas and short stories, I think that this book would make a welcome addition to your collection.

So, if you’d like to see TWISTED yourself, just click on the links below and check it out.